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Are the 80’s Making a Comeback?

I have only bought two books about pregnancy, The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy and The Pregnancy Journal. That’s enough for me. Girlfriends Guide is cute, but I get really distracted and bored after about 5 minutes. I’m just the type of person that wants answers to what is plaguing me at the moment; I don’t really care to read about things that aren’t happening to me personally. Mainly, because a) um, they aren’t happening to me and b) sometimes my scary hypochondriac mind starts to think that maybe those things ARE happening to me. And that is not good. Not to mention counter-productive.

So, I have really enjoyed The Pregnancy Journal. Essentially, it is a day-to-day guide and journal for ladies with buns in the oven. I really appreciate the concise daily information about the growth of my baby and what it means to me. For instance, yesterday’s blurb was:

The hard, bony part of the baby’s palate is now completely formed. The bony plate divides the mouth from the nose and makes it possible for your baby to eat and breathe simultaneously. The muscles in the walls of the digestive tract have become functional and are beginning to practice the contractions they will make when they have food to digest. Your baby’s growth rate has slowed somewhat. It has doubled its weight in the last week to almost 1/2 ounce; its length has increased to 2 1/2 inches.

This type of information is perfect for me, plus it’s coupled with interesting food facts and health information. So, yeah, I really like this book.

This morning, I opened it up with a little more excitement than usual because today marks the first day of my second trimester. Woohoo! I had a feeling today’s blurb might be a little special.

Instead, I read something about kidney nephrons and this:

Take care to wear comfortable clothes that don’t restrict movement or inadvertently cut off your circulation. If you are not quite ready to wear maternity clothing yet, select transitional styles, such as loose sweaters and stretch leggings.

STRETCH leggings? Stretch LEGGINGS? Why in the hell would I want to wear stretch leggings? Just those words conjur up visions of big hair, Ray Ban Wayfarers and bright fuschia stirrup pants (with white socks underneath the stirrups and tan huaraches). I’m already feeling poochy and fat considering I’m in the “in-between” phase (or the “ass-ugly” phase, as I prefer to call it). I’m not so sure stretch leggings and an oversized sweater are going to boost my self-confidence right now.

Who is this author? More importantly, when was this book written? I checked the info, and it was published in 1996! And revised in 2005! Were stretch leggings acceptable in 1996? Let’s see, I was graduating from college that year, and the answer is a resounding NO. I was watching movies like Fargo, Jerry Maguire and the English Patient. I was listening to Beck Odelay and Boys for Pele by Tori Amos. And, OK FINE, I was listening to Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio. Whatever.

My point (and I do have one) is that stretch leggings were not appropriate in 1996 nor in 2006. And especially not appropriate for pregnant women EVER.

PREGNANT WOMEN OF THE WORLD, UNITE!

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21 comments
  1. Anna

    January 23, 2006 at 11:51 am

    That is too hilarious! I loved a few pairs of pants that were similar in style to yoga pants, but not workout material. They really made me feel slim while pregnant, if that is really possible. They were maternity pants from Thyme Maternity, not sure if they have stores in the US or not, but worth mentioning :)

    Ann Douglas, author of “The Mother of all..” series on pregnancy, babies… has some great books. Both Canadian and US versions. Her blog “The Mother of all Blogs” can be found at: http://anndouglas.blogspot.com She never scared me once during my pregnancy!

  2. don't call me ma'am

    January 23, 2006 at 11:56 am

    I’m so jealous of all the cute maternity styles that are out now. And… if you go to the right places, you’ll be able to find transition wear that takes you from the “gee, are you pregnant, or did you just gain weight?”-stage to the “Wow! are you having triplets?”-stage. I was not that fortunate and was forced to wear things that I’m to embarrassed to write about. When I was pregnant with my youngest, my boss told me that I looked very “artsy.” Apparently, my long, flowing blouse and stretchy pants were not as professional-looking as I had hoped.

  3. ms. sizzle

    January 23, 2006 at 12:13 pm

    seriously! step away from the leggings pregger ladies. step away!

    um, coolio is awesome. word!

  4. Cocodrie

    January 23, 2006 at 12:53 pm

    Whoorl, I hate to inform you that leggings are indeed making a comeback. I was shocked (shocked!) to receive my Urban Outfitters catalog last week with, guess what, leggings, leggings everywhere!

    Don’t believe me? Check it out: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/jump.jsp?itemType=CATEGORY&itemID=10&iMainCat=10&iSubCat=10

  5. Xangelle

    January 23, 2006 at 1:26 pm

    There are some amazing maternity clothes out, and you might even feel SOOOO good about your self if you got some. They have the “now and after” pants. Perfect for the not quite pregnant looking gut right now, and also perfect for your not quite so un-pregnant looking body immediately after birth.

    Congratulations on the start of your second trimester.

  6. jege

    January 23, 2006 at 1:32 pm

    I do not understand why anyone would EVER want to bring the 80’s fashion sense (snicker) BACK. It was horrible enough the first time. And to force it upon pregnant women. Despiccable.

  7. whoorl

    January 23, 2006 at 2:29 pm

    Coco,

    I saw the leggings in my Urbn catalog as well…what is this world coming too? They are so ugly! Of course, they would probably be darling on your tiny ass.

    However, check out the necklace I purchased in green and brown. Woohoo!

    http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=21666&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=77&iSubCat=554&iProductID=21666

  8. Boogie's Mom

    January 23, 2006 at 2:41 pm

    You are absolutely right … although you’ll soon find out that most maternity wear is rather stretchy. I guess it’s the use of the word leggings (is that word still in the dictionary?) that’s the problem. Did it have a picture of the person who wrote the book? Maybe she’s one of those women who still wear acid-washed jeans and banana clips.

  9. Lyndsay

    January 23, 2006 at 11:47 am

    I have to agree with you about The Girlfriend’s Guide – it drags on and on, but it’s cute. I’ll have to check out this Pregnancy Journal. Have you signed up on Babycenter.com for the weekly baby development e-mail?

  10. undercover celebrity

    January 23, 2006 at 1:29 pm

    SO funny… I had no idea owned a Coolio CD. :)
    I’m so glad that the hormone fluctuations have in no way impacted your sense of style.

  11. lissa

    January 23, 2006 at 8:30 pm

    I think you should bring them back! ONE LEGGING AT A TIME! Okay I’m just kidding.

  12. Jurgen Nation

    January 23, 2006 at 5:30 pm

    HOW SICK AM I to completely ignore the stretch leggings situation and immediately think, “oh NO! KIDNEY NEPHRONS!”

    Although, if you’re interested, we can have a lengthy chat about Whoorlita(o)’s urinary system.

  13. melati

    January 24, 2006 at 7:03 am

    Yes, it’s true. According to Jessica Simpson and the fine folks at Intuition.com not only are Leggings back, but Hirachis too! (I have to capitalize them because I have respect for their generational jumping power.)

  14. jege

    January 24, 2006 at 9:49 am

    Let’s talk kidney nephrons, my fellow members of the hypochondria board. Annnnnnnnd go.

  15. ellen

    January 24, 2006 at 10:23 am

    Most shocking to me in the Urban Outfitters spring line- Gauchos! Please no.

    ellen